Electric wall plug and like fitting



Nov. 16 1926.

H. W. CLOTHIER ET AL ELECTRIC WALL PLUG AND LIKE FITTING Filed April 2l* 1925 f'hwf/ Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WILLIAM CLOTHIER, 0F WALLSEND-ON-TYNE, AN D HAROLD FREDERIC SECRE- TAN, OF PELAW-ON-TYNE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 A. REYROLLE & COMPANY LIMITED, OF HEBBURN-ON-TYN E, ENGLAND, lA COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

ELECTRIC WALL PLUG AND LIKE FITTING.

Application filed April 21, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to electric wall plugs and like fittings.

Fittings of this type are now often used" for supplying power f'or various household purposes as 'l'or instance portable lamps, electrically driven carpet swecpers, electric heaters, etc.. and the primary object of this involition is to provide for the supply of power 'for two or more of' such usos from one point on the mains.

An electric wall plug or like fitting according to this invention is so constructed that two o r more subsidiary circuits each protected by its own fuse may be connected to the supply through one main fitting.

In the following description it is to be understood. that the terms plug and socket are interchangeable, that is to say a fixed socket member referred to as cooperating with a movable pin or plug member is equivaient to a fixed plug member cooperatingr with a movable socket member.`

In one construction of fitting according to this invention the fitting has at one end a pin or plug member adapted to cooperate in the usual way with a fixed socket member connected to the supply mains. From this one plug member there are three branches each terminating in three socket members, one central and one on each side of it. The body of the fitting is of moulded insulating material and the electrical connections from the main plug member to each ot the three branches. are conveniently embedded in this moulded material provision being made for a separate fuse for each of the branch circuits such fuse being inside the fitting and easily removable.

The intermediate part of the fitting i. e. that between the main plug member and the branch socket members is preferably of triangular form in side elevation and is covered by a metal casing made in two parts secured in position by any convenient means.

A removable plug member is provided cooperating with each of the branch socket members and each of these plug members may be connected to any desired apparatus or subsidiary circuit.

1t during use a fault occurs on any subsidiary circuit this will merely have the effeet of blowing the fuse in the particular branch circuit without affecting the fuse of 24,855, and in Great Britain May 3 0, 1924.

larger size which protects the fitting as a whole.

The above description is given by Way of example as that of a wall plug' or like connection for three subsidiary circuits but obviously a somewhat similar construction may be used in a. fitting for two or more than three of such circuits.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a three-way plug and socket fitting according to this invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the fuses,

Figure 3 is a plan of the fitting with the top part of the cover removed, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of two-way fitting also according to this invention. y

With reference first to Figures l, 2 and 8, A is the fixed socket member of a wall plug shown in position on a wall B. The improved fitting comprises a main plug member C adapted to engage with the socket member A, a body D of insulating material and three branch socket members E, E', and E2. All the parts are enclosed in metal casings and the casing F of the body D has its upper portion made so that it can be readily removed to give access to the connections and fuses within it.

Each branch circuit to the socket members E E and E2 is provided with two fuses con* tained Within the body D of insulating material, and the three branch circuits are connected in parallel to the pins of the main plug member C. Each fuse wire G is wound in grooves on a bobbin or block G (Figure 2) which is contained in a recess in the body D. Conveniently the body is made in two parts so that the recesses form a series of boxes or cavities closed by a lid-like portion D of the block. Projections D2 on the inside of this portion D press the ends ot the fuse wires G into contact with small metal blocks H which are themselves in connection with the leads of the branch circuits. As indicated in Figure l, distance pieces D3 are formed on the body D and its cover D so that when the removable portion of the casing F is placed in position and secured by the screws F the two portions of the body D are clamped tightly together.

lith the brunch socket members E. E :unl E cooperate any convenient forms ot plu;r members, one of which is shown et J.

Figure .4- is n perspective outside View of another fitting* according to this invention. Its internnl construction is similnr to that described with reference to Figures l, 2 and 3 except that provision is made tor two instead of three brunch circuits. As in the form pre viously described` the whole. fittingr is enclosed in met-:1l and provision is mode` for cnlsul-ingY that the casing is adequately eiirthcd in accordance with food present day przlc tice. Screws K for the enrthingl connections :ire `shown in both forms.

IVhzit we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent In nn electric plug and socket fittingr the' rcombination of n mein plug member adapted to cooperate with a fixed socket member, a

plurality of branch socket members,A ay body of moulded insulating material in two parts, one of suid parts havingY internal recesses` Suid body being between the main plug memlver :1nd the branch socketmembers, bobbins accommodated in said recesses, ruses carried on said bobbins and electrically connectingY erich brunch socket member with the main plug member` a easing mechanically connecting' the main plug,lr member and the branch socket members and containingr within it the two part body of moulded insulating material` and :i removable cover for said casing servingr when in position to hold the two parts of the body together.

In testimony whereof we have, signed our names to this specification.

HENRY WILLIAM CLOTHIER. HAROLD FREDERIC SECRETAN. 

